As in any area of law, there are also peculiarities specific to property law in the United Arab Emirates ("UAE"). Our glossary of UAE real estate law explains terms commonly used in the UAE. Today, we provide an overview of some Arabic terms that property owners, tenants, investors and developers may encounter, particularly in the Emirate of Dubai.
Ejari ("My Tenancy Contract")
Ejari is the official registration system for tenancy contracts in the Emirate of Dubai. It is operated by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency ("RERA"). All tenancy contracts must be registered via Ejari. This can be arranged by either the landlord or the tenant and must be repeated each time the tenancy contract is renewed. An Ejari registration is generally a prerequisite for obtaining utility services, such as electricity and water, or for pursuing tenancy-related claims before the Rental Disputes Center ("RDC"). The Ejari Contract Number can also be used for the exact identification of a property within the Smart Rental Index.
Makani ("My Location")
Makani is a geographical address system that assigns a unique ten-digit number to every main entrance of a building in Dubai. The system enables the precise location of properties and is used by public authorities, emergency services and businesses. In the property sector, for example, the Makani number can be used in contracts to distinctively identify a property.
Oqood ("Contracts")
Oqood is an electronic registration system operated by the Dubai Land Department ("DLD") for off-plan properties, i.e. properties that are still under construction. Through an Oqood registration, the buyer is officially registered in the DLD system as the purchaser of the specific unit. At the same time, the transaction is documented and linked to the corresponding project. Thus, the system serves as legal protection for buyers during the construction phase. Once the project is completed and the property is handed over, the Oqood registration is converted into a definitive title deed.
Mollak ("Owners")
Mollak is an electronic system operated by the DLD for the management of jointly owned properties. In particular, Mollak allows users to view and pay bills for service charges.
Noqodi ("My Money")
Noqodi is an electronic payment platform in the UAE that has been specifically developed for secure online payments between businesses, government agencies and individuals. The system is used by numerous government bodies, including the DLD. Noqodi is designed particularly to facilitate the digital processing of property-related payments. Users can open a so-called Noqodi Wallet through which money, such as funds for the payment of service charges, can be deposited, managed and transferred.